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Athletic training founder Gordy Graham to receive award

Gordon L. “Gordy” Graham, Minnesota State Mankato athletic training professor emeritus, will receive the 2011 Fred Zamberletti Award next month at the Minnesota National Football Foundation and College of Fame annual awards dinner.

Gordon L. “Gordy” Graham, Minnesota State Mankato athletic training professor emeritus, will receive the 2011 Fred Zamberletti Award next month at the Minnesota National Football Foundation and College of Fame annual awards dinner.

The award, named for the legendary Minnesota Vikings athletic trainer, honors an outstanding Minnesota athletic trainer who has made a strong impact in the athletic training profession. The “Honoring Legends-Inspiring Leaders” event will take place Sunday, April 17, at 6 p.m. in Murray-Herrick Campus Center, University of St. Thomas.

In 1969 Graham developed one of the first three athletic training education curricula in the country at Minnesota State Mankato. Because of his efforts, Minnesota State Mankato is home to the nation’s oldest, continually accredited athletic training education program.

Graham, a native of Rochester, Minn., was Minnesota State Mankato’s head athletic trainer from 1964-1993. His athletic training curriculum, approved by the National Athletic Trainers Association, became the university’s athletic training major.

Graham also helped organize and was the first president of the Minnesota Athletic Trainer’s Association. He was inducted into the North Central Conference Hall of Fame in 1990, and in 1993 was a charter inductee into the Minnesota Athletic Trainers Hall of Fame – a class that included Zamberletti and Viking legend Jim Marshall.

In 1994 Graham was inducted into the National Athletic Trainer’s Association Hall of Fame, and has served on its board.

The April 17 event will feature a keynote address by new University of Minnesota head football coach Jerry Kill. WCCO-TV co-anchor Frank Vascellaro will be master of ceremonies.

The Minnesota chapter of the National Football Foundation and College of Fame honors outstanding Minnesota professional and amateur football players, coaches and trainers.

Those who want to purchase tickets for the event may go to the Minnesota chapter website at www.nffmn.org.

Minnesota State Mankato, a comprehensive, doctoral university with 15,393 students, is part of the Minnesota State Colleges & Universities system, which comprises 32 state institutions.